The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that Zambia and the Kingdom of Eswatini opened consulates in the Western Sahara, bringing the … The city of Dahla alone now hosts diplomatic missions of … Prior to the Israel-Morocco deal, the U.S. policy toward the territory was in line with the European Union, United Nations and African Union in calling for a path for self-determination for the territory. The UN does not recognise Morocco’s claim to Western Sahara. The consulate will be opened by the Moroccan and Senegalese foreign ministers in the Atlantic city of Dakhla, making Senegal the 22nd nation to establish a diplomatic mission in the territory, the sources said. Zambia and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) both opened theirs on Tuesday. Western Sahara itself in total counts near 12 Embassies and 1 Consulates spread all over the world. https://www.politico.com/.../24/pompeo-us-consulate-western-sahara-450371 Announcement of New Virtual Presence Post for Western Sahara. The statement said that King Mohammed VI made a phone call Tuesday to the Crown Prince of the. US plans to open a consulate in Western Sahara marks a turning point for the disputed territory. Algeria: Western Sahara conflict is a colonialism issue. U.S. plans to open a consulate in Western Sahara … The Trump administration digs its heels into its controversial position on the Moroccan-claimed territory. The UAE decided to open a consulate in Laayoune, according to a statement announced by the royal court on Tuesday night, which will be the first Arab diplomatic representation in the region. The United States ambassador to Morocco began the process of establishing a consulate in the disputed territory of Western Sahara on Sunday, … Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said during the opening ceremony that "the number of consulates in the Sahara reached 15, eight among them are in Laayoune and seven in Dakhla. FILE - U.S. and Moroccan flags emblems are seen outside the provisional consulate of the U.S in Dakhla, Morocco-administered Western Sahara, Jan. 10, 2021. An archway in the entrance of Dakhla carries an image of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, in Western Sahara, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. "We look forward to promoting economic and social development, and to engage the people of this region.". Jordan today opened a consulate in the disputed Western Sahara region, according to Moroccan media reports. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The opening ceremony of the consulate in Laayoune, the largest city of Western Sahara… Although Mauritania abandoned its claim in 1979, Morocco still occupies about two-thirds of the territory. The consulate will be located in Dakhla, a fishing port located in southern Western Sahara, intended to become a “regional maritime hub” serving Africa and the Canary Islands through a large development project launched by Rabat. DAKHLA, Western Sahara (AP) — Trawlers pack the bustling Western Saharan port of Dakhla, where fish scales glisten from workers’ arms as they roll up their nets and buyers shout bids in a sprawling auction warehouse. Morocco considers that the opening of foreign diplomatic representations in the region "is very important (…) and a legal sign that comes within the framework of the exchange of documents and the Vienna Treaty on consular relations," reported the Moroccan News Agency. The Trump administration's recognition of Morocco's claim earlier this month quickly prompted raised eyebrows, from the international community to within his own party. ", He pointed out that "all regions of the African continent are represented by the Sahara through six countries from the west of the continent, five from its centre, in addition to three countries from the south of the continent and a country from East Africa.". Fighting could intensify absent outside help. RABAT (Reuters) - Senegal will open a consulate in Western Sahara on Monday, joining other African and Arab countries in supporting Morocco's claim to … The inauguration will be attended by senior diplomats, members of local authorities, as well as … Some 15 African states have also opened consulates in Western Sahara. The department plans on eventually establishing a full consulate in the region, but with President-elect Joe Biden taking over the White House in a matter of weeks, it's unclear how his administration would approach the issue. 1 min read RABAT (Reuters) - Senegal will open a consulate in Western Sahara on Monday, joining other African and Arab countries in … Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until the mid-1970s, when Morocco invaded and established de facto control over most of the area lasting until the present day. RABAT, MOROCCO - The United States on Sunday started the process of establishing a consulate in contested Western Sahara, after Washington recognized Morocco's … For decades, the United Nations has sponsored efforts to find a political solution to end the conflict. Morocco controls 80 per cent of the area. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's announcement comes after President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would recognize Morocco's long-held claims over the former Spanish territory. Morocco has been in a diplomatic stalemate with the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, whose Polisario Front retains control over a sliver of land hugging the Algerian border. U.S. plans to open a consulate in Western Sahara mark a turning point for the disputed and closely policed territory. October 30, 2020 at 3:32 pm | Published in: Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita attends a press briefing closing two days of talks on the Western Sahara on December 6, 2018 at the UN Offices in Geneva [FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images], Algeria-Morocco competition exposes the closed shop nature of influence within the AU. An archway in the entrance of Dakhla carries an image of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, in Western Sahara, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. Nearby, turquoise waters lap wide, nearly empty Atlantic beaches and diners sip tea in sidewalk cafes. Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony that extends over an area of 266,000 square kilometres, it witnessed an armed conflict until a ceasefire was declared in 1991 between Morocco, which annexed it in 1975, and the Polisario, which called for its independence, backed by Algeria. While the consulate isn’t expected to open for another six to 12 months, Schenker’s trip is a way for the U.S. to cement its commitment to Western Sahara … The virtual diplomatic presence would be managed by the U.S. Embassy in Rabat and would focus on economic and social development, the State Department announced in a Thursday statement. The last UN envoy to the area resigned in May 2019 on health grounds and no successor has been appointed. The announcement comes after President Donald Trump announced earlier this month the U.S. would recognize Morocco's long-held claims over the former Spanish territory as part of a normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel. Former Secretary of State James Baker condemned the move last week as both an unnecessary break from the status quo and a potential source of conflict with strategic U.S. allies in the Mediterranean, particularly Algeria. Morocco has controlled Western Sahara since … The new Congolese consulate joins 18 already established consulates in the Western Sahara. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) called the agreement "shocking and deeply disappointing.". The inauguration of the consulate general in the northern coastal city of Laayoune brings to 16 the number of missions opened in the region since late last year. Zambia and Eswatini both opened theirs on Tuesday. US launches work on consulate in disputed Western Sahara The US Ambassador to Morocco, David Fischer (L), and David Schenker, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, pose wearing traditional robes in the disputed territory of Western Sahara on Sunday The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that Zambia and the Kingdom of Eswatini opened consulates in the Western Sahara, bringing the total number of foreign missions in the region to 15. The USA begins consulate launch in disputed Western Sahara in spite of the United Nations-planned self-determination referendum for the region. The Moroccan monarch welcomed this "important historic decision in support of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom". The United States […] The UN should fill its empty special envoy post, while the U.S. leads international efforts to restart diplomacy. Ned Price, a spokesman for the Biden transition team, declined to weigh in on the issue. Pompeo tweeted Thursday afternoon. To facilitate progress toward this aim, the United States will encourage economic and social development with Morocco, including in the Western Sahara territory, and to that end will open a consulate in the Western Sahara territory, in Dakhla, to promote economic and … Rabat also announced this week that the UAE will become the first Arab country to open a diplomatic mission in the Morocco-controlled area. Senegal will join the ever-growing list of countries with representations in Western Sahara. Some 15 African states have also opened consulates in Western Sahara. "Pleased to announce the beginning of the process to establish a U.S. consulate in Western Sahara, and the inauguration of a virtual presence post effective immediately!" Israel has established ties with a number of Arab states in the final months of the Trump administration — agreements that the president's allies have heralded as a cornerstone of his foreign policy legacy. Clashes have broken out in Western Sahara, ending a 30-year ceasefire between Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front. Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Comoros, Gabon, Sao Tome and Príncipe, Central African Republic and Burundi all opened missions in the region. The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday became the first Arab country to open a diplomatic mission in the Moroccan-controlled area of the disputed Western Sahara. The consulate would be in the Western Sahara’s largest city, Laayoune, and the decision to open it came after a phone call between Moroccan King Mohammed VI and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the Royal Palace said. The U.S. will open a consulate in Western Sahara, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Thursday, further solidifying the United States' recognition of Morocco's claim over the disputed territory. RABAT, April 3 (Reuters) - Senegal will open a consulate in Western Sahara on Monday, joining other African and Arab countries in supporting Morocco's claim … While the consulate isn’t expected to open for another six to 12 months, Schenker's trip is a way for the U.S. to cement its commitment to Western Sahara … | Patrick Semansky, Pool/AP Photo. Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony, parts of which were annexed by Morocco and Mauritania in the mid 1970s. Several African countries have also acted against the official position of the African Union, of which SADR is a founding member, to open consulates in Western Sahara. "The United States looks forward to this increased engagement and we will continue to support political negotiations to resolve the issues between Morocco and the POLISARIO within the framework of Morocco's autonomy plan," the State Department's Thursday statement said. The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday became the first Arab country to open a diplomatic mission in the Moroccan-controlled area of the disputed Western Sahara.. READ: Algeria-Morocco competition exposes the closed shop nature of influence within the AU. Consistent with President Trump’s proclamation on recognizing the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over the Western Sahara, the State Department announces that it has begun the process to establish a U.S. consulate in the region. While the consulate isn’t expected to open for another six to 12 months, Schenker's trip is a way for the U.S. to cement its commitment to Western Sahara … Citing official sources, Moroccan media reported Senegal is set to open a consulate general in Dakhla , the second most populated city in Western Sahara, on Monday. READ MORE Morocco, Israel normalise relations after US … RABAT (Reuters) - Senegal will open a consulate in Western Sahara on Monday, joining other African and Arab countries in supporting Morocco’s claim to …